speaks

their

language

It figures that it would take a Canadian to come up with the audio studio version of the u.n.’s simultaneous translation concept.

As broadcast standards is an oxymoronic thorn in the side of most producers, it’s no wonder that ion, a multilingual protocol merger, is turning heads and garnering substantial interest and orders from the audio production industry.

Robert Predovich, chairman and ceo of Soundmaster Group, ion’s Toronto-based creator, describes the Integrated Operations Nucleus as a way to support the digital workplace, rather than workstations, of the future. ‘It allows you to fill your own shopping cart rather than picking from numerous preloaded carts.’

Basically, the computer-based system is built on an open architecture foundation of modular software, which allows you to quickly get any upgrades operational, and continue to incorporate older equipment by keeping it all harnessed in a controllable loop.

When Universal and Paramount are calling, you know you’re on the right track, something Predovich is used to hearing from the big studios: a major Hollywood studio exec once told him, ‘We’ve been watching you since the mid-’80s, and you’ve had solutions to problems that we hadn’t come up against yet.’

In addition to the attention attracted to the Studio Operating Environment when the ION/88 (a software module that controls the TASCAM DA-88 eight-track modular digital multitrack recorder) was demoed at nab, interest is now being spurred by the success of Vancouver-based Creation Technologies’ radar, a solid-state replacement for the multitrack which is also ion-compatible, that is being distributed internationally by Otari.

There are currently 85 Soundmaster systems in Canada.

The systems are sold in Canada through Adcom Electronics, starting at approximately $20,000. MM